A divided Clarendon Board of Aldermen voted 3-2 to select OJD Engineering to provide services associated with a $275,000 project to replace aging sewer lines in the north part of the city.
The project, funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), will require a $41,000 match from the city and will replace lines that are more than 70 years old.
City Administrator Lambert Little and Mayor Larry Hicks scored proposals submitted by four engineering firms, and recommended the board select KSA Engineers, but OJD representative Che Shadle, whose firm provided the engineering services for the grant application at no charge, wanted to know why his firm was not recommended.
“My main thought is that I have heard complaints over the years,” Mayor Hicks said. “The city wasn’t happy with the status quo, and I’m looking to the future not the past. On scoring, I didn’t score OJD high in performance because of comments I’ve heard on past projects.”
Shadle responded that the mayor and city administrator did not have all the information about the project..
“You weren’t here when we put this together,” Shadle said. “We’ve been looking at this for 10 to 12 years.”
The city first applied for a CBGD grant to replace the sewer lines on the north side of the city more than a decade ago but was unsuccessful and has since been refining its approach. The current grant application was submitted in September 2010. Little began his duties with the city November 1 of that year.
Alderman Ann Huey moved to support the mayor and administrator in selecting KSA Engineers. Alderman Will Thompson seconded, but the motion failed. Alderman Tommy Hill then moved to select OJD Engineering, seconded by Jesus Hernandez, and Alderman Noble joined them in voting for the measure with Huey and Thompson opposing.
In other city business, the board also divided on how to cast the city’s 525 votes for representation on the Donley County Appraisal District Board. The board voted 4-1 to cast the city’s votes for Wayne Riggs, Mitchell Martin, Rhonda Newhouse, Steve Carter, Dan Hall. Alderman Huey opposed the measure because she favored the city supporting one person with all of its votes.
City aldermen unanimously approved eight separate “housekeeping” motions to meet the technical requirements for the CDBG grant.
The board voted in favor of spending up to $8,000 from an airport CD to conduct and FAA survey as a first step to applying for grant funds to improve the municipal airport.
Aldermen accepted the resignation of Municipal Judge Trina Wright with regret, and approved a contract for the coming year with the Donley County Appraisal District for appraisal and tax collection services. They also approved an interlocal agreement to provide emergency support services to the City of Hedley, but the measure has not yet been before the Hedley Board of Aldermen.
Aldermen also met for about two hours in closed session to conduct an annual evaluation of the city administrator.
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